Cpl. Rob Reese, left, a civil affairs Marine with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, climbs out of a creek in Marjah, Afghanistan, last week after disposing of ammonium nitrate that Marines found while searching a farm compound. The chemical can be used for fertilizer, but was banned by the Afghan government because insurgents use it to make improvised explosive devices. Dan Lamothe//Staff
COMBAT OUTPOST REILLY, Afghanistan — Marine Corps Times was “Oscar Mike” again yesterday, moving by convoy from the headquarters of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, at Camp Hanson to this outpost, where Kilo Company 3/6 is based.
The outpost is similar to Yazzie and several other patrol bases we’ve seen recently. Marines sleep mostly in air-conditioned tents, but there is no running water or an indoor chow hall, and few ways to know what is going on in the world outside Afghanistan.
We are told that Kilo Company’s area of operations isn’t nearly as hot as India Company’s right now, but there are still certainly pockets of resistance. COP Reilly is based about 10 miles east of Marjah, on a road known as Highway 608. One of the company’s primary responsibilities is to make sure that the dirt “highway” remains free of improvised explosive devices, something it was laden with when Marines began pushing into the area in February.
We’ll be bouncing around Kilo for the next few days, searching for story ideas and checking on a few themes we’ve already covered. In the meantime, I wanted to point out this story, which Marine Corps Times posted to the Web this weekend. The story focuses on the Corps’ effort to train Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army soldiers at Camp Leatherneck. I wrote it earlier this month while on the flightline at Camp Bastion waiting for a ride to some of the adventures I’ve shared in the last few weeks.
10 Comments
Thanks for the great pics from India Co. It has brought comfort to the two proud parents of the Lion of our Family, HM3 T. Burdick. Keep up the good work with Kilo. I’m sure their families will appreciate your hard work. Be safe!
Thanks for article and pics on Kilo, You have eased our minds somewhat, we have been searching for info on Kilo which our son is attached. Keep safe and more pics please. Marine Mom.
Stay safe. Your updates are brilliant.
Dear Tom and Dan: I am over-joyed to read that you are with Company K! My Marine, my son is with Kilo and reading about what they are doing from reporters like yourself, is the only way I am keeping myself sane. I search all the articles, pics and videos looking for a glimps of my big goofy son and I haven’t found him yet. My daughter, his sister says thats because he’s doing his job of keeping his arse covered. Anyway, keep up the good work! You have no idea how much you are helping me get through this deployment.
also have been following your blog and like cales mom, look for everything i can on the internet & your reports are incredible! you and tom STAY SAFE and sure hope you get to keep your sense of humor. love my marines!
Thanks for keeping us up on news of Kilo company 3rd bat,6th Marines.Grandson involved.
thank you for the consistent updates of 3/6 Kilo, it helps to see how our marines are living in Marjah. Please keep the photo’s coming and know it’s much appreciated.
I wish i woulda known about this site sooner it would of saved me alot of sleepless nights wondering. thank
God familys have these things. My thoughts and prayers are with our Marines and the Familys that are waiting for their safe return, I wish i could somehow have some sort of power to bring our troops home safe so no one else has to feel the pain of not being to hold your baby again, at least til we meet again. God Bless
Ohh i forgot im a proud 3/6 kilo mom
COP Reilly is named for T.J. Reilly of London, KY. T.J., of 1/3 Charlie Co., was killed in Karmah, Iraq a few days before Christmas, 2008. He was 19 years old.
The “Five Points” intersection where COP Reilly stands was seized by 1/3 Charlie following a nighttime helicopter assault on February 9, securing the intersection 4 days before the 3/6 went into Marjah. Once the Taliban realized the 1/3 Marines had moved past their outer defenses, they gathered their forces and repeatedly counter attacked. The 1/3 Marines named the outpost for T. J. Reilly before turning it over to the 3/6.